Kulbhushan Yadav’s death sentence: Has Pakistan pressed the self-destruct button?

Pakistan and India, since the time of their separation, have been countering each other both at diplomatic and security levels with the aim to subvert each other’s interests. Throughout these 70 years, the ball of disagreement has been seen bouncing continuously on the court of controversies laid down between these two neighbors. Global powers like Russia and the US have always fished in the troubled water.

In recent years, India’s involvement in Pakistan has increased to a whole new level. The killing of Akbar Bugti in 2006, initiation of CPEC, construction of Gwadar port, and insurgency in Afghanistan provided grounds for Indian intelligence agency RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) to sabotage Pakistan’s internal security situation.

Provision of hidden support to Baloch rebels, funding to Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan in FATA, terrorist activities in the country, and the old blame-game policy are the few vivid acts played by India to undermine Pakistan internally.

One of the best proofs of India’s hand in Pakistan’s affairs is the arrest of an in-service Indian naval officer, Kulbhushan Yadav. Mr. Yadav, after his arrest, admitted his involvement in killing masses in terrorist activities and the support of anti-state agenda in Baluchistan to de-stabilize Pakistan. The arrest of Kulbhushan revealed India’s designs for Pakistan to fuel Baloch insurgency, ultimately leading to failure of CPEC and Gwadar port.

Kulbhushan Yadav’s death sentence

This death sentence will kill this game, giving India an opportunity to start afresh, rebuilding her trust and position through diplomacy.

Pakistan’s military court sentenced RAW agent Kulbhushan Yadav to death. Pakistan’s decision can add more fuel to the already deteriorated relations between the two countries. RAW will surely try to unearth, and then counter, ISI’s tricky game which led to the failure of Indian’s well sought out plan against Pakistan.

Though the decision is cent-per-cent legal according to the constitution of Pakistan, it was, maybe, not the best time to make it. This step will allow India to structure new strategies and plans to counter Pakistan.

The killing of Akbar Bugti in 2006, initiation of CPEC, construction of Gwadar port, and insurgency in Afghanistan provided grounds for Indian intelligence agency RAW to sabotage Pakistan’s internal security situation.

Under Pakistan’s custody, Kulbhushan was a serious threat to India’s position at international level. This death sentence will kill this game, giving India an opportunity to start afresh, rebuilding her trust and position through diplomacy. Pakistan, instead of sentencing him to death, should have utilized the ‘Kulbhushan card’ against India both on regional and international levels.

One of the counter-strategies by RAW might be linked with the recent missing of retired Pak Army officer, Lt. Col. Habib Zahir. Habib Zahir was in Nepal for a job interview, from where he went missing. India will now try to portray him as an ISI agent arrested by Indian security agencies near the bordering area with Nepal. Indian media will extend every possible support to RAW in order to paint a bad picture of Pakistan in front of the international community.

Pakistan should have extended this card from three to four years with full-time active smart diplomacy and blame-game strategy both at regional and global levels.

Disclosing the arrest of Kulbhushan on the arrival of Iranian President was a futile act that led to an environment of mistrust and suspicion between Pakistan and Iran. This act of Pakistan provided India another opportunity to come closer to Iran. In other words, we lost Iran both at political and economic levels. In response to Pakistan, Iran stretched a friendly hand towards India. In other words, Pakistan secured nothing from Kulbhushan Yadav story but only pushed Iran towards India.

The death sentence to Kulbhushan after a short trial will prove useless. Liquidating Indian agent within a year is unwise. Pakistan should have extended this card from three to four years with full-time active smart diplomacy and blame-game strategy both at regional and global levels. In result, it would have helped Pakistan to re-establish his deteriorated status at the global level which is greatly caricatured by India.

Job-lookup story of missing Pak army retired officer

Indian newspaper ‘Times of India’ (TOM) has intentionally mentioned Kulbhushan Yadav as a ‘retired’ Indian Navy officer in order to balance the game against Pakistan, as the missing Lieutenant Colonel Habib Zahir is also a retired officer in Pak army.

Pakistan must take the issue of missing ‘retired’ officer at a higher level in order to make the regional states cognizant about the situation.

The ‘job-lookup story’ of the missing Lieutenant Colonel is in itself a disgraceful story for Pakistan and Pakistan Army. In such critical security situation where Pakistani security agencies are seriously facing challenges both at regional and global levels, the lustful nature of retired army officers to go abroad for jobs is shameful and disgusting.

Yet, the game is in Pakistan’s hands. Any further mistakes or unwise steps can lead to losing regional and global influences. Pakistan must take the issue of missing ‘retired’ officer at a higher level in order to make the regional states cognizant about the situation.

Pakistan media should help the security agencies and government to present the case of Habib Zahir in front of international community. It will help Pakistan to dissuade India from possible blame-game against Pakistan. In result, India will not be able to secure a new card at both diplomatic and political levels.

Abdul Rahim has completed his M. Phil degree with a focus on foreign policies, regional security, and strategic affairs at International Islamic University, Islamabad. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Global Village Space’s editorial policy.

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